The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival gestured reassuringly for Vivienne to walk in.

Griffin didn’t give a damn, shot Audrey a glowering look, and shoved open the door to let Vivienne in, “Grandpa’s in your hands now, Vivienne.”

Vivienne stumbled a bit from the push. Thankfully, her footing was solid, or she might have ended up face-first on the floor.

Talk about unexpected. No wonder she caught Leopold’s eye. Both of them had a way of taking you by surprise.

…

Meanwhile, Kala was holed up at home.

When Darren got back from wrapping up some work outside, he walked in to find her chilling and watching TV, “Kala, you alright? All that online drama sorted out?”

Kala popped a potato chip into her mouth, “Not even close.”

“So, you’re just… chilling?”

How could she be so laid-back?

Ronald came out of the kitchen with a fruit bowl in his hands. “Don’t mind her. She’s been like this since she got back from the studio. Vivienne called earlier. The agency’s taking over the whole mess, told her to take a few days off. Kala’s over the moon.”

“Well, she’s happy, at least.”

Darren was exasperated. “The agency’s swamped. Ramona came prepared; high-def videos are all over the net, and the trolls are practically crashing the platforms with their venom.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t even understand. “I’m baffled, really. What’s your beef with Ramona that she’d set up such a scheme to target you?”

“She’s not after me.” Kala finally tore her gaze away from the screen. “She’s trying to drive a wedge between me and Vivienne, though I can’t fathom her endgame.”

“But she’s a lousy actress,” Kala spread her hands dismissively, “I’m not falling for such a cheap trick.”

impressed. “That’s my cousin. I thought you were gonna be

the confrontation. but he had seen more than enough of the videos

like dropped from the sky. People in the biz first thought she had some kind of backing, but turns

was neat and tidy: parents were

there wasn’t much else notable about her. Her sudden rise to fame in the cutthroat entertainment industry was baffling, not just to others but even

thought after hearing Darren’s take. “Seems like our adversary isn’t afraid of us knowing she’s a

“What’s more, whoever is behind her has been laying the groundwork for a while now.

organization?” Kala was

Vivienne came to talk to Ronald, they kept their conversation private in

of it and was largely in the dark about what Vivienne and Ronald were up

curiosity was piqued. “Vivienne’s been out of touch for ages. Are you guys into something I don’t know

words. Revealing anything might blow his past involvement with

off the TV and ushered Kala to stand, “It’s nothing.

…

Meanwhile, at CK Penitentiary.

desk, and even a coffee table set with coffee paraphernalia,

grave, was sitting calmly at the coffee table. His wrists and ankles bore

those who knew him when he was alive, his face always wearing a

anyone were there, they’d see his eyes weren’t focused at all. They were cold, empty, devoid of any emotion, much

A flawed prototype of the androids developed by

had escaped destruction solely due to Leopold’s morbid sense

decoy might

hadn’t considered that, at this point, no one from GTO would risk their life for someone who might not

laughed at his fanciful thinking, saying he was too old to

really of any strategic value; it was just

month, the android that had survived a series of unfortunate events remained there, with the surveillance team having lost all hope and Leopold having

like there was a